digital radios

[hpretty]

what is the difference between DAB digital radios and other digital radios. Are the latter just better sound, and only DAB versions have access to the additional radio channels like bbc radio 6, 7 etc?

[xyzzy@bok]

what 'other' digital radios? there is only DAB {Digital Audio Broadcasting } and it is set to replace the existing AM and FM audio broadcast services.

[craigyb85]

It can be a little confusing. You can have 'digital radio' which can be heard via Sky Dig, Freeview, Dig Cable etc. These are radio channels broadcast via a digital platform. Some of the channels will be available on normal AM/FM/DAB, some not. DAB stands for (I think) Digital Audio Broadcasting. This is radio that is transmitted over the air to a DAB receiver. You can get these for your home, car etc. There is no other way to hear digital radio proper. As for which has better sound? Depends really. It's all about how much bandwidth is used for each channel/multiplex. To fit more radio stations on DAB, the existing ones are compressed more and more. The quality can then suffer. It's the same with Sky Dig, Cable, Freeview etc. I find that a perfect analogue signal on both TV and Radio is better than most digital channels. The one advantage of digital is the extra information that can be carried with each channel/station. I don't half talk rubbish sometimes!

[hpretty]

i'm asking becuase i just bid on ebay for a roberts pll world radio, and won, and am now wondering what i've bought as it doesn't seem to be "dab" whatever that is!

[jenstar]

I think I see what's going on. Many radios have digital _tuning_, i.e. they scan automatically rather than you physically turning a dial. These have sometimes been referred to as Digital Radios in the past, before DAB came along and confused the issue.